Jordan is the most expensive country in the Middle East for budget travellers — Petra entry alone costs $70 for a single day. But the country is extraordinary: Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba are all spectacular, and the Jordanian people are among the most genuinely hospitable you'll encounter anywhere.
The Jordan Pass: Non-Negotiable
Buy the Jordan Pass before you arrive. It includes your visa ($56 for most nationalities) AND entry to 40+ attractions including Petra. The Petra Wanderer pass (2 days in Petra) costs $80 as part of the Jordan Pass — that's $80 for visa + 2 days at Petra, vs $56 visa + $70/day Petra separately. The Jordan Pass pays for itself the moment you visit Petra.
Petra: More Than One Day
The tourist circuit in Petra is 2–3 full days if you're serious about it. Day 1: The Siq, Treasury, Royal Tombs, Monastery (a brutal but essential 850-step climb). Day 2: Little Petra (Siq al-Barid), the back route to the High Place of Sacrifice, the Colonnaded Street. The site is vast and most visitors only see 20–30% of it. The Jordan Pass covers 2 days — use both.
Getting Around Jordan Cheaply
JETT buses connect Amman to Petra ($8, 3.5 hours), Amman to Aqaba ($12, 5 hours), and other major routes. For smaller routes, service taxis (shared taxis leaving when full) connect most towns for $2–5. Uber operates in Amman and is remarkably affordable ($3–6 across the city).
Wadi Rum: The Desert Experience
Wadi Rum is the red desert valley that Lawrence of Arabia called "vast, echoing and God-like." An overnight Bedouin camp in the desert costs $35–60/person including dinner, sleeping in a tent, and a jeep tour at sunrise. This is not something you can do cheaply and do well — the overnight camp experience is genuinely transformative and worth the cost.
Food in Jordan
Jordanian food is excellent and street food is affordable: falafel in pitta ($0.50), hummus ($1), shawarma ($2), kanafeh (the cheese dessert) ($1.50). Sit-down restaurants are pricier — $8–15 for a main. Amman has excellent middle-range options around Rainbow Street and Jabal Amman.
Daily Budget (Excluding Accommodation)
- Food: $10–15
- Transport: $5–10
- Activities: Covered by Jordan Pass or $10–15 for smaller sites
- Total (excl. accommodation): $25–40/day
- Budget accommodation: $15–25 (guesthouses in Wadi Musa near Petra, hostels in Amman)